Windmill-coupling.



L. G. HAMEL. WINDMILL COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1910.

1,026,352. Patented May 14, 1912.

J I 7 '5 Z a l j C 1% I 9 1/ 1f & 3 x J] J J J J0 i9 J5 5/ 14 g J4 4 J4 Z a J Z7 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIOE.

LOUIS C. HAMEL, 0F APPLETON', WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM H. KILLEN, 0F APPLETON, WISCONSIN.

WIN DMILL-COUPLIN Gr.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS O. HAMEL, a citizen of the United States residing at Appleton, in the county of Outagamie and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Windmill-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coupling devices for windmill and pump rods, and it has for its object to provide a device of this kind by which the parts can be readily connected or disconnected.

Other objects and advantages will be manifest when the nature of the invention is better understood, it consisting in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which drawing, Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of the device taken at right angles to each other. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 1 is an elevation of a slightly modified form of coupling. Fig. 5 is a fragmental view in perspective of a detail.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the coupling comprises two members to one of which the pump rod 5 is connected, and to the other one the windmill rod 6. These two members are yieldingly connected as will be presently described. The member to which the pump rod is connected is a sleevelike casting 7 of suitable length which is placed around the upper end'of the rod. The sleeve is cut away on one side from a point adjacent to its lower end, and on the opposite side, the sleeve is also cut away adjacent to its upper end. The sleeve therefore terminates at its upper end in two opposite branches 8 which are connected by a plate 9 formed integral therewith. This plate is also formed with an outstanding shoulder 10 for a purpose to be presently described, and in line with the spaces between the two branches the shoulder is notched as indicated at 11.

The pump rod 6 adjustably is held at its lower end between two jaw members 12 having at their lower ends stems 13 which stems extend downwardly through the notches 11, and along opposite sides of the upper portion of the casting 7, opposite the spaces be tween the branches 8. The lower ends of i the stems are bent outwardly and upwardly to form hooks 14. Between these hooks and the shoulder 10 is located a coiled spring 15, said spring being coiled around the outside of the stems 13 and the branches 8. This construction provides a yielding connection between the member carrying the pump rod and the member which carries the windmill rod, whereby the strokes are cushioned, and jars and jerks eliminated. 10 is a lug 16 against which one end of the spring 15 comes, and the other end of the spring comes against one edge of one of the stems 13. The purpose of this structure is to prevent the spring from rotating on the stem 13 and the branches 8. The outer surface of the stems is rounded to conform to the coil of the spring, and to increase the strength' of the stems and their hooks.

The jaws 12 have serrated faces 17, so that they may obtain a tight hold on the rod (5, and said jaws are clamped on the rod by a U-bolt 18 passing around one of the jaws, and. having its two branches extending through ears 19 on the other jaw. Nuts screwed on the projecting ends of the branches tighten up the bolt, whereby the jaws are drawn together to firmly grip the rod (3. That portion of the jaw around which the bolt passes has a groove 21 in which said bolt seats.

The pump rod 5 is coupled to the sleeve 7 by means of a pin 22 extending transversely through registering openings in said. parts. The pin is carried at the free end of a flat spring 23 secured to one side of the sleeve near its upper end, below the spring 15, the free lower end of said flat spring 23 pressing said pin 22 normally toward the sleeve 7 and hence into said registering openings. The spring 23 presses the pin 22 inwardly through engagement with a shoulder on the said pin, which shoulder is formed by a reduced portion of the pin which extends through the said spring. The outer end of the pin 22 is received bet\ cm the branches 2-1 of a forked lever, the latter being pivotally connected to the pin on a crosspin as indicated at 25. The lever tips are in contact with the outer surface of the sleeve 7, so that when it is swung downwardly the pin 22 will be withdrawn from the pump rod and the sleeve, and the rod is thus uncoupled. That portion of the On the shoulder sleeve which is engaged-by the branches of the lever has grooves 26 in which the ends of the said branches work. These grooves prevent the lever from spreading, and obviate the necessity of having the cross pin 25 riveted through the branches 24. When the lever stands upright as shown in Fig. 1, the tips of its branches rest in the grooves 26 and they cannot spread apart, and as the lever is borne downward these tips rise in said grooves and cannot yet spread apart. When, however, the lever is borne clownward to an extreme position, the tips will ride out of the upper ends of the grooves after which they may be spread apart to release them from the extremities of the cross pin 25, and when so released it is obvious that the lever is free. The engagement of this pin with the lower end of the spring and the curvature of the latter are such that the pin 22 can then be entirely removed from position as will be clear.

It will be noted that the spring 23 is slightly arched or bowed so that when the in 22 is withdrawn, the spring straightens and therefore lengthens, thus permitting the pin to move in a straight line out of the openings in the sleeve and the pump rod, and obviating the necessity of making oblong openings in said parts. This construction a ords a brace or support for the pin as the openings in which it seats can be made so that the pin fits snugly therein. A rigid connection is thus had between the sleeve and the pump rod, and looseness between the same is effectually prevented. As an additionalfastening means for the rod 5, there is provided a set screw 27 which is threaded through the sleeve, so that it ma be screwed against one edge of the rod. This will tightly hold the rod in the sleeve Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the if the holes through which the pin 22 passes become worn.

The coupling-herein described provides a center draft connection between the rods, and it effectually serves the purpose for which it is designed. The parts are simple, and the coupling can be quickly applied to connect the rods, and operated to release the same.

Fig. 4 shows a slightly modified form of coupling, in which a single .member is provided to which the rods are connected. I'

The pump rod is connected in the same manner as has been described, and the windmill rod is clamped to the upper end of the sleeve casting 7 by a U-bolt 28, said end of the casting having a groove 29 in which the lower end of the rod seats.

WVhat is claimed is:

A coupling device comprising a sleeve having a transverse hole, a rod telescoping into the sleeve and also having a transverse hole adapted to aline with that in the sleeve, a pin through the alined holes, and a cross pin through its outer end; combined with a spring attached to the sleeve and engaging said cross pin with a tendency to press the former pin toward said sleeve, and a lever having a fork whose branches. engage the extremities of said cross pin, the outer face of the sleeve being grooved alongside its hole for the sliding reception of the tips of said branches.

In testimony as my own, I have ture in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS C. HAMEL.

that I claim the foregoing Witnesses:

E. C. HILFERD, TVM. F. KAMPs.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0..

hereto aifixed my signa-. 

